Combination chair and stepladder



Dec. 27, 192 1,654,386

w. o. SEAMAN COMBINATION CHAIR AND STEPLADDBR Filed. May 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM O. SEAMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COMBINATION CHAIR AND STEPLADDER.

Application filed May 4,

This invention relates to. the combination chair and step-ladder today commonly used in kitchens of small apartments, or the like.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed to provide acombination chair and step-ladder which can be made at a minimum cost, which embraces a minimum number of parts and which can with facility be manipulated by the average housewife.

Specifically the invention aims to provide a combination chair and step-ladderhaving two moving parts, one, the back of the chair having fixed thereto side-braces, and, two, the seat of the chair having fixed thereto the front leg of the chair. I

The present invention further embraces improved structural features of a combination chair and step-ladder.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the combination chair and step-ladder in chair forming position;

Fig- 2 is a fragmental enlarged detail of the locking means for the combination chair and step-ladder when in chair forming position; 7 I i Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the combination chair and stepdaddr in ladder forming position;

.Flg. 4' is an enlarged fragmental detail.

partly in section, ont-he line 44 of Fig.

1; and v Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Essentially the invention embraces a combined back forming and main step-ladder frame forming member A having elongated and short bars fixedly secured thereto, and a seat forming member B having the front leg of the chair when in chair forminglposition fixedly secured to the seat, and such mem bers A and B pivotally connected to one another.

The member A has two elongated sidearms 7 connected to one. another by the step forming members 8. The side members 7 may also be connected to one another by a rod 9 securing the bars 7 to one another at their upper ends, and by a rod 10 connecting the bars 7 to one another slightly below the middle thereof. The rod 10 preferably also 1926. SeriatNo. 106,640.

secures to the side-arms 7, as illustrated, the short braces 11 which extend at right angles to the arms 7', preferably two being used at either side of the chair. The rod 9 preferably also secures to the arms 7 the elongated braces 12, two generally being provided, one at either side of the chair and which extend from the arms 7 down to the outer ends of the short braces 11. The side braces 12 and 11 form lateral extensions serving two functions, one to form the rear legs for the ladder when the device is fold ed into ladder forming position, and the other, a support for pivotally securing the seat portion to the ladder portion. The opposing faces of the braces 12 and 11 are preferably halved or recessed at 13 so that the outer faces of the braces may substantially aline withone another.

The elongated braces 12 preferably have extensions 14 projecting beyond the braces 11, as shown, which forms the rear supporting feet for the step-ladder when in ladder form ing position, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Properly to secure the braces 11 to one another and to strengthen the device, the braces 11 are also provided with the tie-rods 15 16, which connect them to one another. I

From the foregoing it will be seen thatthe bars 7 of the chair back forming mem-' her, and the braces 11 and 12 are fixedly secured to one another.

The member B consists essentially of a seatforming member 17 havingaprons ,18 extending down from the sides thereof, and front legs 19, two being provided, one to either end of the seat 17 fixedly secured to the seat. The apron members 18 terminate just rearwardly of the step forming memher 8' at 31, the rear ends of the apron members 18 being preferably inclined relative to the seat portion17, as indicated. The seat member 17 extends a short distance beyond the step member 8, as indicated, to rest on the step member 8 when the device is in chair forming position, as illustrated in Fig." 1. The ends of the seat forming member 17 are recessed at QO and 21, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, to clear the side-bars 7.

'The edges 23 and 24 of the recesses and 21, respectively, are inclined in the same direction as the ends of the apron members 18, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, preventing binding with thesidebars 7. V

The member B is 'pivotallyiconnected to themember A preferably by a rod extending from one brace 12 to the other and through the apron members 18 adjacent to the front end of the seat member 17.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the device in chair forming position, as shown in Fig. 1, will have the rearend of the seat member 17 resting on the step 8, the bars 7 form the rear legs and back of the chair, and the members 19, the front legs of the chair, and the elongated braces 12 form arms for the chair, In ladder forming position the member B will merely be tilted backward away from the step 8 with its'legs 19 extending out of the way in between the side-bars 7 and thebraces12, so thatthe ladder will rest on the lower ends of the side-arms 7 and the free ends of the extensions 14 ot the elon- ,vide a temporary anchor for locking the members B and A to one another in chair forming position, there is provided the two fingered spring member 26 which is prefer ably secured to the lower edge of one of the apron members 18 by means or screws 27 or the like. The springmember 26 preferably has a short curved finger 28 and a long curved finger 29. The spring fingers 28 and 29 are positioned to cooperate with an abut-' ment, in the present instance the rod 16, as,

clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. When the device is inchair forming position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the rod 16 will be resiliently held by the finger 28, and when the device is in ladder forming position, the rod 16 will beresiliently held by thefinger 29, as indicated in Fig. 3.

If desired, each of the aprons 18 may be provided with such a spring device 26.

Any suitable means may beprovided'for gripping the seat 17 to withdraw it out of. chair forming position. In the present iiistance, the seat is provided with an opening 30, as indicated in Fig. 5.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combination chair and step-ladder, the combination with a back forming member provided with steps, of braces fixedly-secured to said back forming member, a seat forming member pivotally connected to said braces, and legs fixedly secured to said seat forming member to form the front legs of said device when iii chair i'ori'ning position the rear end of the-seat resting on one of the steps in chair, forming position.

2. In a combination chair and step-ladder forming device, the combination with v a chair back forming member provided with steps, of side-braces fixedly secured'to said back forming member, the device resting on the lower end of the back forming member and on the lower ends of the side braces when in ladder forming position, a seat pivotally connected to said side braces, legs fixedly secured to the seat, the rear end of the seat resting on one of the steps and the device resting on the lower end of the back forming member and the lower ends of the right angles thereto, elongated side-bars fixedly connecting the upper ends of the side bars with the outer ends of the short side bars, the device resting on the lower'ends of the side-bars and the lower ends of the elongated side braces, a seat pivotally con nected to, the elongated side-braces, and'legs fixedly secured to the seat, the rear end of the seat resting on one of the steps andthe device resting on the lowerends of the side bars and the lower ends of the legs when in.

chair forming position. v v y 4. Ina device of the character described, the combination with a step form ng member, of sidebraces fixedlysec'ured to said,

member, the device resting on the lower ends a of said'meinber and the lower ends of. the side-braces in ladder forming position, a seat pivotally connected to said side-braces, the rear end of the seat cooperating with said member in chair forming position, andian anchor for anchor ng the seat .1111 ladder forming position.

5. In a device or the chara cter'described,

the combination witha step for niiig member,'of lateral extensions fixedly secured to said member, a seat pivotally connected to said extensions, legs fixedly connected to said seat, a rod secured to said extensions,

and a t vo fingered spring connected-to said seat, one finger cooperating with said rodre siliently to anchor said device. in ladder and'the other finger cooperating with said rod resiliently to anchor torming position said device inseat forming position. i

6. In a device oi the character described,

the combination with a step forn'ring mem:

her having steps securedthereto, o'ii' lateral extensions fixedly connected to said member, a seat, an apron extending down from the,

sides of the seat, legs fixedly secured to said seat, the apron and extensions being pivotally connected to one another, arod secured to said extensions, 'anda two fingered spring member connected to said apron, oneffinger cooperating with said rod resiliently to anchor saiddevice in ladder forming position, and the other finger cooperating with said rod resiliently to anchor said device in seat forming position. it

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a ladder forming memher having steps secured thereto, of sidebraces fixedly secured to said member, a seat, an apron extending down from the sides of said seat, legs fixedly secured to said seat, the apron and side-braces being pivotally connected to one another, the seat and apron being recessed so as to prevent bindingwith said member when coming into and out of seat forming position.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a ladder forming member, of lateral extensions fixedly secured to said member, a seat pivotally connected to said extensions, legs fixedly" connected to said I seat, an abutment on said extensions, and a two fingered spring member connected to said seat, one finger cooperating with said abutment resiliently to anchor said device in ladder forming position and the other finger cooperating with said abutment resilient- 1y to anchor said device in seat forming position.

WILLIAM O. SEAMAN. 

